October 18, 2004:Since its inception the Don’t Count Us Out coalition has worked with community leaders, industry representatives and elected officials to help bring about badly needed reform in the television rating system. This effort was inspired by Nielsen’s reckless decision to introduce the new Local People Meter system to America’s largest media markets despite overwhelming evidence that the system undercounts African American and Hispanic viewers. While we respect NAACP President and CEO Kweisi Mfume as a longtime champion of civil rights, we are disappointed that in this instance he has chosen to endorse the LPM system despite this evidence.
THE DON’T COUNT US OUT COALITION APPLAUDS SEN BURNS’ LEADERSHIP IN THE FIGHT FOR FAIR AND ACCURATE TELEVISION RATINGS
Octber 7, 2004: Today, Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT), Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, sent a letter to Deborah Majoras, Chairperson of the Federal Trade Commission asking the FTC to exercise its regulatory authority to compel Nielsen Media Research to meet objective standards for fairness and accuracy. If the FTC finds that it does not have authority, Chairman Burns said he would introduce legislation to establish a new oversight mechanism.
NEW RATINGS DATA DEMONSTRATES SERIOUS FLAWS IN NIELSEN'S LPM SYSTEM. BET NUMBERS UNDERSCORES COALITION'S CALL FOR MEANINGFUL OVERSIGHT OF NIELSEN
September 16, 2004: For months, community groups, elected officials and industry leaders have pointed to overwhelming evidence that the LPM system undercounts African American and Hispanic viewers and asked that Nielsen delay the roll out of the system until these problems are fixed. Despite these calls, Nielsen has imposed this flawed system in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago arguing that the LPM system is accurate and that it shows that African American audiences are migrating to cable networks like BET. New data from this past July shows Nielsen’s argument to be baseless and false.
DON’T COUNT US OUT CALLS ON REV. JESSE JACKSON TO ENDORSE COALITION’S PROPOSAL OF FCC REGULATION OF NIELSEN RATING MONOPOLY
September 9, 2004: Since its inception the Don’t Count Us Out coalition has worked with community leaders, industry representatives and elected officials to help bring about badly needed reform in the television rating system. This effort was inspired by Nielsen’s reckless decision to introduce the new Local People Meter system to America’s largest media markets despite overwhelming evidence that the system undercounts African American and Hispanic viewers. While we respect Rev. Jackson as a longtime champion of civil rights, we are disappointed that in this instance he has chosen to endorse the LPM system despite this evidence.
DON’T COUNT US OUT RESPONDS TO NIELSEN’S NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH WILLIAM C. VELASQUEZ INSTITUTE
September 9, 2004: The Don’t Count Us Out coalition is pleased to learn of Nielsen’s new partnership with the William C. Velasquez Institute aimed at improving the rating monopoly’s measurement of Latino viewers. Since its inception the coalition has called on Nielsen to admit that it has a serious problem when it comes to accurately and fairly counting all audiences. Today’s announcement indicates that Nielsen recognizes this issue and is prepared to take steps to solve it.
SENATE COMMUNICATIONS SUB-COMMITTEE FINDS SERIOUS FLAWS WITH NIELSEN’S LOCAL PEOPLE METER SYSTEM
July 15, 2004: Today’s hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee represents an important victory for all those who value fairness and accuracy in our television rating system. The Don’t Count Us Out Coalition applauds Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) for convening this important gathering and beginning the process of fixing our broken television rating system.
Despite the overwhelming evidence presented at the hearing demonstrating the problems associated with the Local People Meter system, Nielsen CEO Susan Whiting continued to attack the messenger. In her testimony Ms. Whiting dismissed the coalition, calling it a campaign of “disinformation.” Ms. Whiting’s unfounded and inappropriate attacks mask the fact that the only reason light is now being shed on Nielsen’s secretive and monopolistic practices is the persistent efforts of this coalition. The Don’t Count Us Out coalition is made up of community leaders representing hundreds of thousands of constituents. It is outrageous for Ms. Whiting to so casually dismiss our legitimate concerns.
The Growing Controversy Over Nielsen’s Local People Meter Story
Over the past several months, a groundswell of criticism has developed around Nielsen’s plan to introduce the new Local People Meter (LPM) system to the top ten media markets in America.
For additional statements and media releases from the coalition, please visit our media page.
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Check out these important recent articles on the issue:
Univision Sues Nielsen Broadcasting & Cable, June 10, 2004
CBS Changes Ratings Methods New York Times, June 3, 2004
Nielsen Media's Revised Ratings System Is Denied Accreditation New York Times, May 29, 2004
Local People Meters Denied Accreditation in N.Y TV Week, May 28, 2004
Univision Holds Out Against Local People Meters Media Week, May 25, 2004
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